Planter



(No Model.) 7 Sheets-sheet 1.

' J. N. WILSON.

` PLANTEB. N0. 535,432. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

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No. 535,-432. Patented Mau'.` 12,1895.

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J. N. WILSON.

PLANTEB. No. 535,432. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

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J. N. WILSON. PLANTER.

No. 535,432. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

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J. N. WILSON.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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PLANTEB.

No. 535,432. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

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` v 7 Sheets-Sheet 6. J. N. WILSON.

PLANTER.

Patented Mar. `12, 1895.

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JAMES N. WILSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. i

PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 535,432, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed June 25, 1894. Serial No. 515,596. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES N. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to planters. The machine was especially designed, for use in planting potatoes and cotton-seed, but is serv-` iceable for planting a variety of other materials, such as corn, beans, peas, &c.

The invention-consists of certain novel Adevices and combinations of devices, which will be hereinafter fully described and be defined in the claims.

The novel features herein contained are designed for use in connection with some of the parts, shown in my prior patent, issued to me of date May 1, 1894, and numbered 518,979.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Therein like letters refer to like parts.

Figure l is a rear elevation of the machine, embodying my preferred'construction. Fig.` 2 is a View, chiefly in end elevation, but partly in section, showing the same parts as in Fig. 1, with the left side wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a plan View of one end of the drum, and one of the cams shown in Figs.1 and 2. Fig. 4 isa vertical section, through the collecting trough section of one end of the drum, on the line X X' of Fig. l, looking inward. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, on the line X2 X2 of Fig. 4, showing one of the pivoted droppers, at the lowermost point of the drums travel, or in its loading position. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, on the line X? X3 of Fig. 4, showing one of the pivoted droppers, when at the drum shaft level, or in its loaded or carrying position. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, on the line X4 X4 of Fig. 4, showing the dropper at the highest point of the drums travel, or when in its dropping position. Fig. 8 is a vertical or radial section, through one of the collecting troughs of the drum,on the line X5 X5 of Fig. 4, looking from the right toward the left. Fig.'9 is a rear elevation of a machine embodying a modified construction, with some parts broken away and others shown in section. Fig. 10 is a View of the same parts as shown in Fig. 9, chiefly in end elevation, but partly in section, with the lefthand Wheel removed. Fig. 11 is a vertical section, through the collecting trough section of the drum, on the line Y Y of Fig. 9, With some parts broken away and others removed. Fig. 12 is a view, chiefly inl secton,but partly in elevation, through a machine on the same line as Fig. 11, showing a modified form of the dropping mechanism.

Considering irstthe preferredconstruction, shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the supporting or ground Wheels a., the axle a and the main frame b, mounted upon said axle may be of any suitable construction. On the said frame, are mounted a pair of standards b', in which isjournaled adrum-shaft c. The drum carried by said shaft c is composed of a pair Aof bi-coniform sections c arranged lare-e ends outward, and having internal groove-like collecting troughs o2 formed by abrupt enlargements of the drum; which troughs serve to hold the seeds which are delivered thereinto, from the drum, from being forced back into the drum under the action of the droppers. These collecting trough sections c2 have their inner walls set at an incline, with respect to the drum-heads, so as to make the troughs larger in cross section, at the point of their junction with the adjacent conical sections ofthe drum, than at the outer end or bottoms of the same, which construction prevents the lodging of potatoes or other materials on the walls of the troughs, or in other words, avoids clogging ot' the same. In the drum-heads or end walls of said collecting troughs c2, adjacentI to the peripheries thereof, are a series of outlet open` ings c3; in which outlets c' are mounted a series of pivoted droppers, comprising pivotshaft seats c4 of angular form in cross section, hook-like portions c5, expanded flat portions c6 and pivot shafts c7 of corresponding shape in cross section to their seats c4 and journaled in suitable bearing in the drum-head. The said pivot shafts c7 have at their outer ends crank-like lever arms cs, provided with rollers o9. The said rollers o9 engage the outer vertical base of an annular cam C19, having formed therewith a foot-plate c, by which the said cam-casting is secured to the main frame.

shown, the said cam-casting 01 c11 is bolted to IOO AsV

a base-board cl2, which is laterally adjustable on the frame. Each of the cam-castin gs cw c, located one at each end of the drum, are of exactly similar form, except that they are faced in opposite directions. At or near the highest traverse point of the drum, (see Fig. 3,) the said annular cam-plate 010, is provided with jog, faced by an outside cam-plate C13 of similar form and supported by angle-iron brackets 014, projecting from the ca m-plate 010, which parts co-operate to form the offset camchannel or passage c1? for the rollers c, at that part of their travel with the drum,which camchannel 015, becomes effective to turn the pivoted droppers on their bearings, as required to effect the drop and restore the same to their normal position. To the drum-heads are Secured adjustable plates o16 of angular form, which project through the outlets o3 into the collecting troughs c2, with their upturned inner ends bearing against the inner walls of said troughs. The said plates c16 are adjustably secured to the drum-heads by slot and screw connections, as shown at 017. Vhen the said plates c1 are in working position, andthe said pivoted droppers are in their closed position, the said plates co-operate with the hooklike portion c5 of the droppers, to form cups, for catching and holding the potatoes or other materials to be dropped. When one of the said plates is at the lowest traverse point of the drum, as shown in Fig. 5, it will form the top wall of the cup. When on the level with the drum-shaft, the said plate will form the inner side Wall of the cup, as shown in Fig. 6; and when at the highest traverse point of the drum, the said plate will form the bottom wall of the cup, as shown in Fig. 7. Hence, as the said plates may be adjusted, the cups, formed by the co-operation of the same with the hooklike portions c5 of the droppers, may be varied in size, at will, to graduate the same for the quantity of material desired to be dropped. The cam-castings 010 c1l are braced and properly held at their tops by a sectional cross-tie C18, the meeting ends of which slide past each other, through a keeper 019, and are locked together in whatever position set by a jambolt c2@ tapped through the said keeper.

Rotary motion, in the direction shown by the arrows, is imparted to the drum from the right hand supporting wheel a', through a sprocket and chain drive, comprising the sprocket 021, loose on the axle d', the chain 022 and the sprocket o23, engaged 'by said chain and rigidly secured lo the right end of the drum-shaft c. The loose sprocket clhas on its outer face a half clutch c24,which is engageable by a sliding half clutch member c25 on the inner hub of the driving wheel a and under tension to assume its closed position from a spring not shown. The sliding half clutch c25 is subject to a shipper-fork C26, pivoted to bracket C27, projecting from the main frame and connected by chain C28, passing over guide-sheaves c2, with a crank-arm 03 on the hand-lever rock-shaft d. The said rock-shaft d is mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame and is provided with a spring-pawl hand-lever d', engageable with a notched lock segment d2 fixed to the main frame. The said lever-shaft d is also provided with rearwardly projecting crank-arms d3 having near their rearends pivoted or rocking keepers d4.

The seed-boots or furrow-open ers f, are carried by drag-bars f', pivoted at their forward ends to the depending drag-bar brackets]c2 fixed to the main frame. The boot drag-bars f are extended rearward beyond the boots andare provided near their rear ends with spring guide-,rods f3, pivoted to the drag-bars and extending upward to the rocking keepers d4on the lever shaft arms cl3. The rods fs are engaged above the keepers d4 by nuts f4; and on the said rods, between the keepers d4 and the drag-bars f,are located coiled springsf5, through which and the lever mechanism described,'the seed-boots may be yieldingly held under any desired pressure, in whatever position they may be set, or be raised out of contact with the ground, at will.

For covering purposes, I employ a pair ot' vertical shovels g, set with respect to each other on upwardly and rearwardly convergent angles, and supported by a yoke g', attached rigidly to cover drags g2, which embrace or straddle the seed-bootf and are pivoted to the seed-boot drag f in front of the seed-boot, as shown at g3. The yokes g have upwardly extended stems g4, which work through pivoted or rocking keepers g5, mounted in the rearwardly projecting parts of the seed-boot drag-bars f. On the said stems g4, between the seed-boot drag-barsf' and the shovel drag-bars g2, are located springs Q7. This construction permits the shovels gto yield independently of the drag-barsf, while they are at the same time under the control of the common lever d.

In the seed-boots f work the ordinary flexible seed-tubes h, which are secured to the lower ends of delivery chutes h', having hopper-shaped mouths at their upper ends, 1ocated directly under and in position to receive the materials delivered from the pivoted droppers, when in their dropping position, or at the highest traverse point of the drum. The said chutes h are supported by angle iron brackets hzand bolts h3, working through slots in the feet sections of the brackets into fixed parts of the frame-work, which construction permits the said chutes to be laterally adjusted, as may be required.

A suitable seat 7c is pivoted to the main frame and supported in any desired adjustment on cross-bar 7c', which is adjustably secured to standards k2, rising from the frame.

The drum sections c telescope with each other, and the seed-boots and covering devices are laterally adjustable in substantially the same way as the corresponding parts, shown in my above identified prior patent, No. 518,979. 1t has already been stated, that the las cam-castings 010, ou, and the chutes hf and the sectional tie-rods-c18 are all laterally adjustable. These lateral adj ust-ments adapt the machine to plant the rows at any desired spacing apart from each other. The drum sections c are provided with doors, not shown.

Having regard to the action, it is of course obvious that, under the rotary motion of the drum, the potatoes or other materials will work outward into the collecting troughs c2. The annular cams c10 operating on the lever arms c8 of the dropper-shafts c7, normally hold the droppers in their innermost position, with the hook-portions c5 projecting into the said troughs and the flat expanded portions o6 closing the outlet openings c3 in the heads of the drums. Hence,when the cup formed by one of the hook-like portions of the droppers, in co-operation with one of the plates c1G is at its lowest point, in the traverse of the drum, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, it will be loaded with the potatoes or other materials. On the continued movement of the drum, the cup will begin` to clear itself of all excessive material, as it approaches the level of the drum shaft, and before it reaches the highest point in the traverse of the drum, all the materials, except what is retained by the plate o16, will have rolled oif from the cup. As the cup approaches the highest traverse point of the drum, the roller o9 on the crank-shaft c7 o8 will enter and passthrough the offset carnchannel G15; and thereby the said droppers will liist be turned out into their dropping position, as shown in Fig. '7, and will then be restored to their normal positions, as shown in the other views. The said cam-channel 015 is so located with reference to the traverse of the drum, that the dropper will begin to turn before it reaches the highest point, so as to prevent the potato or other materials from rolling out of the cup, when in or near the highest point in the traverse of the drum.

From theforegoing, it will be seen that both the loading of the droppers and the dropping action, is effected in a positive manner, and that the separation of the potato, or other materials, to be dropped from the body of the materials contained in thedrum, is effected in what might be called a natural manner under the rotary motion of the drum. The body of materials in the drum, under the effect of the centrifugal motion, tend to follow up with the drum until gravity overcomes the centrifugal motion, when they will roll back radially away from the cups, leaving only the graduated or desired quantity therein. The potatoes or other materials having been dropped into the Vchute h', as described, will of course be directed through the seed-boot-f into the open furrow, and he covered by the shovels g.

Referring next to the modidification, shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 1l, the general structure is similar to that shown in the parts already described, but the dropping mechanism is different in certain of its features, and there are also some minor differences, in respect to the drags and covering devices. The collecting trough sections c2, have their outlet openings p in the peripheral walls thereof, instead of in the outside walls, as shown in the preferred construction. These openings p are normally closed by the (zo-operation of the pivoted droppers p', and the sectional pivoted Wipers p2 p3. The droppers p are of hook-like form, as clearly shown in Fig. 1l', and have their pivot-lugs p4, located at the backs of the hooks, Vso as to leave a projecting part of the hook, which when the dropper is -in its closed position, forms part of the peripheral wall of the collecting trough. The parts` of the pivoted droppers, which project into the collecting trough c2, when the droppers are in their closed position, work freely between the side walls of the said troughs and are normally held in their closed position, by springs p5 wrapped around their pivot-shafts, with their ends spread ont and bearing one against the drum wall, and the other against the drum wall section of the drum. In the lugs p4 are fixed crank-arm pivot shaftspp'whieh are journaled in bearing-brackets p8, fixed to the outside surfaces of the trough walls, and the crank-arms p7 of which are of a length and project from the drum far enough to strike cam-rollers p9 on a transverse cam supporting rod p10, held in proper position by radial arms p, projecting from the drum-shaft standard b. The sectional Wipers p2 p3 have their parts pivotally connected by pins p12, and held together, so as to yield in one direction only, by springs p13. The wiper-sections p3 are rigidly secured to crank-arm pivot-shafts p14, which are journaled in the bearing lugs p8 and the crankarms of which project from the drum into position to be operated upon by segmental cams p15, secured to and projecting upward from the rod p10. The said sectional Wipers are normally held in their closed position, so as to form a part of the drum wall, by springs p16, wound about pivot shaft p14 and secured to the drum-section, as shown in. Fig. ll. The segmental cams p15 are adjustable on the rod p10, both lengthwise thereof and around the same, and are securable in any desired position by jam-screw holtspl. The cam rollers p9 are held in position by collars p18 and jamscrew bolts p19, which permit the same to be adjusted when required. Vhen thedroppers p and the sectional wipers 192293 are both in their closed positions, they will join, as shown lat p20, in Fig-.11,to close the openings p. v Having regard to the action, the pivoted droppers will be loaded, when at the lowest traverse point of the drum, in the same way as in the preferred construction; and, under the upward motion of the drum, the potatoes or other materials will roll away from the dropper after passing the level of the drum-shaft, leaving therein only thepotatoes or other materials held by the dropper. When the Wiper ICO crank-arms p14 strike the segmental cams p15, they will be rocked inward into the full line position,showninFig.11,and be there held for the whole length of the said cams p15. W'hile the wipers are thus held by the said cams p15, the crank-arms@7 of the droppers will come in contact with the rollers p9 on the cross-rods p10; and thereby the pivoted droppers will be tarned outward through the openingsp. The inward motion of the Wipers, when first striking the segmental cams p15 wipe off from the droppers all the materials, except the proper quantity to be carried out and dropped thereby. When the droppers p are turned outward, if the potatoes or other materials carried thereby should slightly more than fill the dropper-hooks, so as to be intercepted by the section p2 of the wiper, the said section p2 will yield outward against the spring p13, so as to permit the dropper to turn, notwithstanding its excessive load into its dropping position, as shown in Fig. 1l. The potatoes or other materials delivered by the droppers Q9 are caught by the hopper-mouthed chute p21 and directed thereby through the flexible seedtube and seed-boot to the seed-bed in the ground. The chute p21 is supported from the main frame in any suitable way. The bootdragr is similar to that shown in the preferred construction, but has a swiveled connection r', with the drag bracket f2, and the boot?n2 is pivoted to the drag and provided with a slotted segmet r3, held by bolt r1, in the customary way. The covering device is in the form of a concave roller s, held by a pair of sectors s', pivoted to the boot-drag r and guided by bolt S2 working through a slot s3, in 'the segmental part of the sector. The other parts of the machine are substantially the same as those shown in the preferred construction and require no further notice.

Turning now to the modification shown in Fig. 12, the outlet openings t are in the peripheral walls of the collecting troughs, as in the modification just previously described; but the said outlet openings t have behind the same radial shelves t', and the front wallsof the same are formed by single section pivoted wipers t2, which are normally held in their closed position by springs t3, but which may be rocked at the proper time by a pin t4, in the path of crank-arm projections t5 on the pivot shaft t of said wiper. The pivoted droppers t1 t8 t9 z510 are located on the exterior of the drum, between parallel cup side-boards i511, fixed to the said drum. The said droppers are pivoted to the side-boards 1511 by pivotpins 12,-and are normally held in their closed or non-dropping position, by springs 13, reacting against the periphery of the drum and the projecting` parts t1 of the droppers. The springs thereby hold the said droppers as shown in Fig. 12, with the parts t8 bearing against fixed stops i514, projecting from the side wallszf11. The lever-arms 7510, attached to the pivoted droppers project outward from the drum, in position to be operated upon by camrollers 7515 on cross-rod t1, supported by brackets 1517, rising from the main frame, or in anyA other suitable way. The said brackets t" also support the pin t4, which projects parallel with the axis of the drum into position to engage with the crank-arm t5 of the wiper-shaft t6. The hopper mouthed chute 2518, for directing the dropped materials to the flexible seedtube is substantially the same as the chute p21, shown in the last previously described modification, with the exception that it is eX- tended upward on both sides of the drum to a higher point. Having regard to the action, the pivoted droppers t7 will be loaded, when at the lowest traverse point of the drum, by the action of gravity on the potatoes or other materials in the drum, in which action the shelves t will prevent the potatoes or other materials from rolling backward, without entering the outlets t. Loading thus by gravity, an excessive load, such for example, as two or three potatoes may pass into the pockets, on the exterior of the drum, formed by the pivoted droppers and the side-walls`t11 of the cups, as shown in Fig. 12. If so, as the drum moves upward and the loaded pocket approaches the vertical position, the excessive part of the load will tend to roll back through the opening t into the drum. If this unloading of the excess should not be completed before the drum reaches the highest traversed point, or nearly so, the wipershaft crank t5 will be struck by the pin t1 and thereby be turned inward, as shown in Fig. 12, which will insure the return of the excess of the load at that point, while the single potato or load required, will be retained between the projecting peripheral wall of the drum and the part t8 of the dropper. Hence, under the continued motion of the drum, the retained potato or other desired quantity of material, will tend to follow along the interior surface of the dropper-hook, and hence. will not pass through the opening t into the drum. When the dropper reaches the camroller 1515, the lever-armi10 will strike the said roller and rock the dropper on its pivotal bearings against the resistance of the spring 1513 into its open or dropping position; and the potato will roll therefrom into the hoppermouth chute 18.

Throughout all the views wherever appearing, the potatoes are represented by circles marked a.

The form of dropper shown in Fig. 12, will do the work, as I have demonstrated by experience, but is not as positive in its action as the other constructions before described.

Analysis of all the several forms of dropping mechanism shown and described, will disclose the fact that the pivoted dropper is a common or generic feature to all of the forms; that the pivoted dropper is normally held by suitable means in its closed or nondropping position, and is rocked into its open or dropping position, by cams, cooperating with lever-arms on the droppers. Further,

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it will be noted, on this analysis, that in all the constructions, the drop occurs at some point above the level of the drum-shaft; and that the loading takes place, at or near the lowest traverse line of the drum. Otherwise stated, thedropping and loading points are so related, that the materials to be dropped may be separated from the body of materials to be retained in the drum, in what might be called the natural way, under the action of gravity and the rotation of the drum. I believe this to be a new and important principle in the construction of droppers. It will also be noted, of course, that the collecting troughs c2 are common to all the forms shown and described.

Of course, it will be understood, that still other modifications-might be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, it would, be possible, to edect the dropping by cups or droppers carried on the drum and having a lateral shifting motion, on the same, for throwing the droppers from their closed or loading position into their open or dropping position.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is as follows:

l. In a planter, a rotary coniform drum, terminating at its large end in an angular collecting trough c2 formed by an abrupt enlargement of the said drum, whereby the seeds received therein, from the body of the drum, will be held against the action of the droppers, substantially as described.

2. In a planter, the combination with the bi-coniform horizontal drum, arranged large ends outward and having adjacent to its larger ends, the annular collecting troughs c2, formed by an abrupt enlargement of the said drum provided with discharge openings therein, of pivoted droppers mounted in the openings of said troughs and cooperating therewith, to receive the materials to be planted, when at or near the lowest traverse point of the drum, and to drop the same, at or near the highest traverse point of the drum, substantially as described.

3. In a planter the combination with a rotary drum having discharge openings, of droppers working through said openings, normally heldin receiving position within said drum, and means for positively moving said droppers from their receiving position within said drum to their discharging position exterior of said drum, substantially as described.

4. In a planter, the combination with a rotary drum, of pivoted droppers carried by the drum and provided with projecting leverarms, and a fixed endless annular cam-way for said lever-arms arranged to normally hold the droppers in their closed position. and to positively rock the same on their bearings to effect the drop at the proper times, under the rotary motion of the drum, substantially as described.

5. In a planter, the combination with a conical drum, of pivoted droppers seated in outlet openings in the drum-head and. having each a hook-like portion normally projecting into the drum and an expanded portion normally closing said outlet openings, and means for positively turning said droppers from their normal to their dropping position and return under the rotary motion of the drum, substantially as described.

6. In a planter, the combination with the biconiform rotary drum arranged large ends outward and having the collecting trough sections c2 with outlets c3, of the series of pivoted droppers cl c5 c6, seated in said openings and having the pivot shaft c7 with crank leverarms es, the fixed annular cam c10 with offset cam-channel 015, and the adjustable plates cw, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES N. wrLsoN.

Witnesses:

Y E. F. ELMoRE,

JAS. F. WILLIAMSON. 

